Method of making crank axles



March 2 1926. 1,575,427

R. HENRY METHOD OF MAKING (33m: AXLES Filed Feb. 9, i922 Z igJ Patented Mar. 2, 192

sms'r RAYaioNn HENRY, or neck ISLAND, ILLINOIS, AssmNoanYMEsNE ASSIGNMENT T0 MoLrNn mr nnsNr COMPANY, a GOR?ORATION or ILLINOIS.

rarest OFFI-QEL METHOD OF MAKING CRANK AXLES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, RzivMoNo HENRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at 4218 7th Ave, Rock Island, county of Rock lsland. State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Urank Axles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to crank axles and methods of making the same.

It particularly applicable to crank axles for use with powerlift plows such as shown in co-pending application, Serial No. 452,749, filed March 16, 1921.

Heretofore, crank axles for powerlift plows have been made by bending round metal rods to the desired crank axle shape and attaching thereto by means of'clamps, the various crank arms necessary for use with the crank axle in connecting it to the plow mechanism. It is dillicult to attach these cranks rigidly to a round crank axle because the character of the surface does not lend itself readily to this purpose. F urthermore, it isdifficult to maintain them in position because the strain on the cranks is relatively great at times when the plow is being used. In order to obtain sullicientrigidity it has been necessary to pro ide several parts, some of-which are malleable castings, and all of which add to' the expense of the plow and increase the cost for maintenance without eliminating the undesirable feature of having the crank clamped in a position where it may slip under conditions of practice.

The present invention is a radical depar ture from, prior practice. It contemplates the formation of a crank integral with the axle, such crank to be formed out of the metal of the crank axle itself and without requiring that any special stock be used in making the axle.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved crank axle.

More specifically, the object is to provide a crank axle having an integral crank between its ends,

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation of the bar of round steel stock out of which the crank axle is made,

Figure 2 is an elevation showing the bar after the first operation has been performed upon 1t.

Figure 3 is an end view of the piece shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4- isaplan view of the bar after another operation has been performed upon Figure 5 Figure 4. V i i i Figure his a plan view of the bar after still another operation has been performed upon it. 7 r i Figure 7 is a plan view of the bar after. the operation succeeding that of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view showing the completed crank axle. a

Figure 9 is a section on. the line 9-9 of Figure 6. 1 Figure 10 is an end elevation of the com pleted bar as illustrated in Figure 8.

in order to economize in. steel, it is de -r sirable to formthe crank axles for powerlift plows out. of as small stock as possible consistent with proper rigidity and strength. Accordingly, in forging a crank integral with the crank axle, it is not desirable to use heavy stock in order to get more body from which toforge the crank, but instead is a section on the line 5-5 of:

a method of forming the crank must be devised which will permit the a'xleto be made out of the same stock as it otherwise wouldbe made, were the crank not to be forged upon it. This has been donein the present invention.

The stock used is a round steel bar :1 such as illustrated'in Figured] This bar is heated and passed through an upsetting machine which upsets the metal to form an enlargement 2 such as is illustrated in Figure 2. This enlargement is formed at a point such that, when the axle is bent to the shape illustrated in Figure 4, the enlargement will come at the proper place to permit the crzink to be forged at the bend in the crank ax e.

After the enlargement is formed on the metal bar, the bar is bent to approximately its proper shape to form a crank axle and the enlargement is flattened out to the shape illustrated in Figures l and 5. The major portion of the metal is flattened out to one side of the body of the bar, that side being the outside of the angle formed in the axle. The blank is then passed through forging dies to form a crank 3 in the enlarged portion, the crank being formed so that it lies substantially parallel to the body of the crank axle. The base of the crank is joined to the body of the axle by a thickened metal portion and the body of the crank is connected by a web of metal 4 as illustrated in Figures 6 and 9. The other fins or projections 6 constitute what is known as the flash A bead 5 is also formed during this operation.

' In the next operation,.the blank shown in Figure 6 is passed through a trimming die which cuts away the flash and cuts out the metal between the body of the crank and the axle, leaving the crank connected to the axle, only by the metal at its base.

In the next operation, the crank is bent outwardly to substantially right angles with the main body of the crank axle, that is, to'the position shown in Figures 8 and 10. The crank may then be placed in a final shaping die, which bends the parts and straightens them out in the exact alignment desired. p

. The crank is thus formed on the crank axle between its ends without weakening the crank axle itself and without requiring that heavier metal be used for making the crank axle than would be necessary if no crank Were forged from it. extremely rigid andthere is no danger of it turning or twisting relative to the crank axle. All clamps and separate parts are eliminated, thereby reducing the cost.

It is to be understood that variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of making an agricultural implement crank axle with an integral crank between its .ends which comprises forming an enlarged portion on a metal .bar between its ends, flattening the enlarged portion, forming a crank in said flattened enlarged portion substantially parallel to The crank itself is the main body of the bar leaving the cross section of the crank axle substantially the same as the main body of the bar, cutting away the metal around the crank, and bending the crank so that it extends substantially at right angles to the main body of the bar.

2. The method of making an agricultural implement crank axle with an integral crank between its ends which comprises forming an enlarged portion on'a round metal bar between its ends, flattening the enlargement, forming a crank in said enlargement in substantially parallel relation to the bar leaving the cross section of the crank axle substantially the same as the main body of the bar, cutting the metal away between the crank and bar, and bending the crank outwardly to substantially right angles with the main body of the bar. The method of making an agricultural implement crank axle withan integral crank between its ends which comprises forming an enlarged portion between the ends of a round metal bar, bending the bar to substantially right angles and flattening the enlargement to one side of the bar, forming a crank in the enlargement, cutting away the metal between thebar and crank, and bending the crank outwardly.

a The method of making an agricultural implement crank axle with an integral crank between its ends which comprises upsetting the metal in the bar between its ends to form an enlargement, bending the bar to substantially right angles, flattening the. enlarge- "ment to the side of the bar on the outside of the angle, forming a crank in the enlargement by means of dies, cutting the metal away between the crank and the shaft, and bending the crank outwardly.

In testimony whereof, I allix my signature.

RAYMOND HENRY. 

